CM Yogi Pays Tribute to Mulayam Singh Yadav on Death Anniversary
Synopsis
On Mulayam Singh Yadav's fourth death anniversary, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath offered a public tribute on X, honouring the Samajwadi Party founder as a former Defence Minister, three-time UP CM, and Padma Vibhushan awardee — a cross-partisan gesture in UP's charged political landscape.
Key Takeaways
UP CM Yogi Adityanath posted a tribute to Mulayam Singh Yadav on his death anniversary, October 10, 2026 .
Mulayam Singh Yadav was three-time Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Union Defence Minister in the late 1990s.
He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan , India's second-highest civilian honour.
Mulayam passed away on October 10, 2022 , aged 82 .
The tribute is notable as it crosses party lines — Yogi leads the BJP while Mulayam founded the rival Samajwadi Party .
A quiet but pointed gesture crossed political lines on Saturday morning. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath paid tribute to former UP Chief Minister and former Defence Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav on his death anniversary, October 10, 2026 — offering what he called a humble homage to a towering figure in the state's political history.
Posting in Hindi on X, CM Yogi wrote: 'देश के पूर्व रक्षा मंत्री, उत्तर प्रदेश के पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री, 'पद्म विभूषण' मुलायम सिंह यादव की पुण्यतिथि पर विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि।' — 'Humble tribute on the death anniversary of former Defence Minister of India, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, and 'Padma Vibhushan' awardee Mulayam Singh Yadav.'
A Legacy That Defined UP Politics
Mulayam Singh Yadav was one of the most consequential political figures modern Uttar Pradesh produced. Founder of the Samajwadi Party, he served as Chief Minister of UP three times and as Union Defence Minister under the United Front government in the late 1990s. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Vibhushan — the nation's second-highest civilian award — in recognition of his decades-long public service. He passed away on October 10, 2022, at the age of 82.
When Rivals Remember
The tribute carries a particular weight because it comes from the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party in a state where the Samajwadi Party remains the principal opposition. In Uttar Pradesh's sharply contested political landscape, acknowledgements across the aisle are neither routine nor insignificant. CM Yogi's decision to mark the occasion publicly — foregrounding Mulayam's national titles, his civilian honour, and his service as Defence Minister — frames the tribute as institutional respect for a statesman rather than partisan sentiment. It is the kind of gesture that speaks to the gravity attached to Mulayam's place in UP's collective memory, regardless of ideological distance.
For a state that continues to process Mulayam Singh Yadav's absence from its political stage, tributes like this one are a reminder that some legacies outlast the rivalries that defined them.
Point of View
Where the SP and BJP contest every inch of electoral ground, such gestures also serve to signal magnanimity to the Yadav community and other Mulayam loyalists. The foregrounding of Mulayam's national roles — Defence Minister, Padma Vibhushan — rather than his state legacy is a deliberate framing choice. It elevates the tribute above local political rivalry and plants it on the terrain of national service, a terrain CM Yogi has increasingly sought to occupy.
NationPress
10 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Mulayam Singh Yadav pass away?
Mulayam Singh Yadav passed away on October 10, 2022 , at the age of 82 .
What is the Padma Vibhushan that Mulayam Singh Yadav received?
The Padma Vibhushan is India's second-highest civilian award, conferred by the Government of India. Mulayam Singh Yadav received it in recognition of his long career in public service.
Why did Yogi Adityanath pay tribute to Mulayam Singh Yadav despite being from a rival party?
CM Yogi's tribute follows an established Indian political tradition of honouring departed leaders across party lines, recognising their role as public servants and statesmen irrespective of ideological differences.
How many times was Mulayam Singh Yadav Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh?
Mulayam Singh Yadav served as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh three times , making him one of the most prominent figures in the state's post-independence political history.
Who founded the Samajwadi Party?
The Samajwadi Party was founded by Mulayam Singh Yadav . It remains one of the principal political parties in Uttar Pradesh and a major force in national politics.
